Planning a summer beach holiday? Save money – and avoid the crowds – by looking away from Mediterranean favorites to these less obvious destinations.
Shake off the winter blues by making plans for golden beaches and summer sunshine – but forget about Corfu or the Amalfi Coast, because this year you could be trading high prices and crowds in Greece and Italy for Albania and Turkey’s budget-friendly beaches.
If you are bored of sharing the sand with fellow Brits on the Costa del Sol, then it’s time to look at the less obvious coastlines of Poland, Romania and even Georgia. From the Baltics to the Black Sea, we have rounded up the cheap beach destinations you hadn’t thought to try in 2024.
Vlorë, Albania
With white-sand beaches lining the Ionian Sea, the Albanian Riviera is fast becoming southern Europe’s go-to beach destination. Albania’s third-largest city, Vlorë has a 5km promenade lined with palm trees, white sandy beaches and the concrete remains of communist bunkers.
Explore the hidden coves of the Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Marine National Park on beach-hopping boat trips, or cycle to Narta Beach and Lagoon, where a Greek community cares for a 13th century island monastery. Take a break from the sun, sea, and sand with a walking tour through centuries of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Albanian history in Vlorë’s Old Town.
Vlorë is a two-hour drive from Tirana, which is increasingly well served by flights from the UK. Boat trips from the capital cost €25pp (£21.40) and boutiques provide luxury at budget prices, with doubles from £65.
The list includes:
- Pomerania Province, Poland
- Batumi, Georgia
- Turkey’s islands
- Vama Veche, Romania
- Marsa Matruh, Egypt
- Smiltyne, Lithuania
You can read the full article here.
